The Mystery
The Fates are my favorite part of Greek mythology. They are feared by humans and gods alike, yet they are also comforting when viewed as part of the “circle of life.” Little has been written about the Fates, and much of what has been recorded is almost an afterthought. I believe the Fates have done this on purpose—they’re clever like that.
I became aware of the Fates when they appeared in Hadestown, the Broadway adaptation of the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice. From the moment I saw them, I was intrigued. How did these three women have so much influence? What were they whispering to the characters and each other?
Where did the Fates come from? There are many origin stories, but I’m sticking with one that directly affects humans. The Greek gods, Zeus (King of the Olympians) and Themis (Goddess of Law and Order), are the father and mother of these Fates.
My obsession with the Fates led me down a rabbit hole of Google and library searches into Greek mythology, ultimately placing me in a realm where predestination and free will coexist. Learning that the circumstances of my birth may have been determined at my conception and the circumstances of my death may have been predetermined, too, allows me to focus on what I do have control over, how I live my life.
Their Role
The Greeks knew the Fates as the moirai. Moirai translates to “portion” in Greek and is the root of the Latin word “merit,” which means “deserve.” When humans are conceived, life is meted out in an orderly fashion according to the temperaments of the Fates. Life’s thread quantity is predetermined. The threads are woven together with the help of the Fates to create an individual’s “Tapestry of Life.” The Tapestry of Life is a collaboration between destiny and free will, blending the circumstances beyond our control with our responses and choices.
Weaving on a loom requires threads that run perpendicular to each other. On the Tapestry of Life, the warp threads run on a north-south axis, forming the foundation of humanity. These threads are the color of shadow, camouflage, and isolation, appearing in shades of gray. They carry doubt, fear, regret, hate, division, guilt, and shame—forces that require little effort or intention to manifest. Like gravity, they are a natural pull, shaping the background of our lives. It is easier for the Fates to drop into a person the thoughts that influence mortals to the “lazy man’s” way of living—a life dominated by gray.
The weft threads are woven along the east-west axis, bringing vibrant color to the weaving. These threads require deliberate effort to weave and are influenced by love, vulnerability, curiosity, trust, forgiveness, connection, kindness, and compassion. Although initially challenging, each colorful thread strengthens the foundation below it, making it easier to weave successive threads and ultimately leading to a fulfilling life.
Who Are the Fates?
The Fates are three sisters charged with managing the cycle of choice and life. Clotho, meaning “spinner” in Greek, is the youngest of the Fates. With her cylindrical spindle, she determines the circumstances of our birth. She twists dreary grays with vibrant colors into the thread of life. This thread is designed to encompass life’s challenges and joys, allowing the individual to determine how they design their Life Tapestry.
The name Lachesis means “allocator” in Greek and is the name of the middle sister, whose job is to decide how long a life will last and to allocate thread to the warp and weft depending on our life’s choices. Her loom is where the thread is set, with the drab colors of life as the foundation. Lachesis’s loom is not merely a tool of fate but a framework where each thread reflects the blend of what is predetermined and what we make of it.
Atropos, the eldest sister, is the inflexible one. Her name means “inevitable” in Greek. She’s often depicted with an obstinate expression and dark, impassive eyes. She is the one who is unwilling to negotiate, no matter how much she is implored. Her dedication to serving the thread of life causes fear in those unfamiliar with her duty. Atropos is comfortable in her role, knowing that without her diligence, the cycle of birth, life, and death would falter.
Our Role
Our choices, within the constraints of our circumstances, color our Life Tapestry. While life’s challenges may seem unique to our circumstances from day to day and moment to moment, they are all woven from the same thread. The Fates weave our tapestry by how we respond to our challenges.
Weaving the weft of our Life Tapestry is a voluntary act. It takes courage to lay the first vibrant thread into the gray warp. The foundation of our lives comes from the warp, fraught with pain and fear, but the weft threads offer the possibility of joy and loving connection. Even so, weaving the weft with the best parts of ourselves does not guarantee a favorable outcome. Life remains unpredictable, and its threads may not always align with our expectations of ourselves or others. In the end, our Life Tapestry will be completed upon our death, reflecting the life choices we’ve made, and hoping they’ve made the world a better and more vibrant place.
